"Picture a weasel -- and most of us can do that, for we have met that little demon of destruction, that small atom of insensate courage, that symbol of slaughter, sleeplessness, and tireless, incredible activity -- picture that scrap of demoniac fury, multiply that mite some fifty times, and you have the likeness of a Wolverine." - Ernest Thompson Seton, 1953 The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest member of the weasel family. It is large and ferocious and can weigh up to 30 kg. Some call it a 'skunk bear' because of the smell it gives off and its resemblance with a bear. They have been known to capture prey of other predators, such as polar bears or wolves. It is currently found primarily in arctic regions such as Scandinavia, Alaska, northern Canada or Siberia. The wolverine is still trapped for its fur in some parts of its range. The state of Michigan in the USA is known as the Wolverine State, although a wolverine sighting there is an extreme rarity.
Resources:
The wolverine foundation
Wikipedia
The Wolverine is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wolverine habitats
Forest, Grassland, Subarctic forest, Temperate forest, Temperate Grassland and TundraSome facts about the
Wolverine
Adult weight : 16.333 kg (35.9326 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 20 years
Female maturity :710 days
Male maturity : 776 days
Gestation : 35 days
Weaning : 87 days
Litter size : 3
Litters per year : 1
Interval between litters : 639 days
Weight at birth : 0.095 kg (0.209 lbs)
Basal metabolic rate : 32 W
Body mass : 12.7 kg (27.94 lbs)
Temperature : 36.85 °C (98.33 °F)
